Plant-bed protector.



H. B. CRIBB.

PLANT BED PROTECTOR.

APPUCATION FILED JULYB, 1914.

1,139,1 67. Patented May 11, 1915.

$9. 1. 6 .29 13 20 16 19 Y I N J k ./l7 l5 zz A 21 THE NORRIS PETERS CO4, FHOTOYLITHOH WASHINGTON. D. C

HENRY B. CRIBB, 0F HOBBY COUNTY, SOUT El CAROLINA.

PLANT-BED rnornoron,

To aZZwhOmt'tma-y concern: I Be it known that I, HENRY B. CRIBB, a citizen of the United States, residing in the county of Horry and State of South Carolina, have invented new and useful Improvements in Plant-Bed Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to plant bed protectors, and it has particular reference to an improved frame structure for supporting the canvas usually employed for the purpose of protecting tobacco beds from snow and the like.

One object of the invention is to produce a supporting device or frame structure made of Wire which, while strong and capable of supporting the weight of the superposed canvas, as well as that of ordinary snow falls resting thereon, will be light, easily manipulated and of a nature that will not injuriously shade the plants, as is the case where wooden frame structures are employed. v

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and efficient connector for connecting the individual supporting frames.

With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in'the claims.

In the accompanying drawing has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the claims 7 may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a plan view of a panel of the improved supporting device, portions having been broken away to reduce the length. Fig. 2 is an end view showing two panels arranged in position for operation. Fig. 3 is a side View showing portions of two contiguous panels. Fig. 4: is a sectional detail View taken on the line 4-4 in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the connector detached.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference.

Specification of Letters Patent. 7

Patented May 11, 1915.

Application filed July 8, 1914. Serial No. 849,805.

The improved supporting device consists of a panel A made of wire and comprising a substantially rectangular frame B of relatlvely heavy wire in connection with longitudinal strands l5 and cross pieces 16 of relatively light wire. The strands 15 may be connected with the end members 17 of the frame B by twisting them about said end members, and the cross wires 16 may be connected with the side members 18 of the frame B as well as with the strands 15 by twisting them about the same to produce meshes which, in actual practice, may measure approximately eight by twelve inches, although no limitation is made to the dimensions of the meshes or the dimensions of the frame or panel. It is thought, however, that the panel may be advantageously made of a width of six'feet and of a length of ten feet or more.

The side members 18 of each panel are provided adjacent to the ends thereof with outwardly extending loops 19 and similar loops 20, as many as may be desired, are formed intermediate the ends of the side members, it being understood, however, that said loops should be symmetrically arranged so that the panel may be turned upside down or end for end without affecting the relative location of the loops. Each end member 17 of each panel is, likewise, provided intermediate and midway between the ends thereof with loops 21.

For the purpose of supporting the panels in position for operation a connector is used, shown in detail in Fig. 5, by reference to which it will appear that said connector is formed of a piece of wire 22 by bending the ends thereof to form loops 23, each loop being terminally bent to form a hook 24 having an out-turned bill 25, the hooks 24 being opposed to one another, as shown. The bills 25 of the hooks 24: preferably engage the intermediate portion of the wire body 22 so as to prevent accidental disassemblage of the parts, it being obvious that the connector is to be made of resilient wire which will readily permit the parts to be assembled with or disconnected from the connector, as may be required. When two panels are juxtaposed at the opposite sides of a plant bed, the loops 19 at the upper edges of the panels may be connected together by the connectors, the loops being supported in the hooks 24, as shown, without danger of becoming disengaged. In like manner, the

ends of contiguous panels may be connected together by connectors engaged with the loops 19 and 21. i

It will be seen from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawing, that I have produced an extremely simple, strong and durable supporting device which may be efiiciently utilizedfor the purpose of supporting such flexible or textile coverings as are utilizedfor the purpose of protecting plant beds. The supporting device may be easily and quickly erected or taken down and when not in use, may be readily stored in small compass. Such of the loops 19 and 20 as extend from that side member of the frame which in practice is at the lower end of the panel will support such side member a suitable distance above the ground to prevent corrosion, thereby greatly prolonging the life ofthe device. To this end it might also be found advisable to protect such loops 19 and 20 with a coating of non-corrodible substance, such as rubber tubing or the like.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new,is:

1. In a device of the class described, a :panel unit of approximately rectangular symmetrical shape consisting of a frame,

strands and cross pieces, said frame having side members with out-turned loops at the ends and intermediate the ends thereof, and end members with out-turned loops intermediate the ends thereof.

2. In a device of the class described, a panel unit of approximately rectangular symmetrical shape including a frame having a wire mesh filling, said frame having upper and lower side members provided at the ends and intermediate the ends thereof with out-turned loops that extend .downwardly with respect to the lower side member and upwardly with respect to the upper side member, and end members provided intermediate the ends thereof with out-turned loops.

3. A plant protector comprising two panel units each consisting of a substantially rectangular symmetrical frame having a wire mesh filling, said frame comprising upper and lower side members having out-turned loops at the ends and intermediate the ends thereof, and end members having out-turned loops intermediate the ends thereof, said frame units being inclined toward each other with the loops extending from the lower side member engaging the ground and constituting supporting feet and the loops extending from the upper side members disposed contiguous to each other, in combination with connecting links having resilient hooks detachably engaging the contiguous loops of the frame units.

4. In a device of the class described, a panel consisting of a wire frame having a wire mesh filling, the side and end members of said frame being provided with outturnedloops, in combination with a connector made of resilient-wire, said connector comprising a body having terminal loops and opposed hooks with out-turned bills that lie in contact with the intermediate portion of the wire body, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY B. GRIBB.

,Witnesses:

A. LEE POWELL, J. E. DICK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G. 

